Machine for husking and cracking nuts



Novfa, 1926.

C. A. HOPKINS ET AL MACHINE FOR HUSKING AND CRACKING NUTS Filed July 6. 1923 6 Sheets-Sheet 1 Nov. 9 1926.

c. A. HOPKINS ET AL MACHINE FOR HUSKING AND CRACKING NUTS Fil'edflJuly 6. 1 6 Sheets-Sheet 2 auomtozrx Nov. 9 1926. 1,606,225

- c. A. HOPKINS ET AL MACHINE FOR HUSKING AND CRACKING NUTS Filed July 1923 6 Sheets-Sheet 5 Q: Q: Q: Q: Q: Q: Q: Q: a Q: Q: Q: {5 Q: Q: Q: Q: Q: Q: 11 Q: Q: E i? Q: Q: E g; Q: -Q: Q: Q: Q: Q: Q:

Q: Q: 5 Q: 25$- Q: Q: Q: Q: Q: Q: Q: Q: Q: Q: Q: Q: Q: Q: Q: Q: Q: Q: Q: Q: 32 I 1 Nov. 9, 1926. 1,606,225

C. A HOPKINS ET AL' MACHINE FOR HUSKING AND CRACKING NUTS 6 Sheets-Sheet 4 wm/wtozs (Jmuc 14 601;

6 Sheets -Sheet C. A. HOPKINS ET AL MACHINE FOR HUS KING AND CRACKING NUTS Filed July 6. 1923 Nov. 9 1926.

Nov. 9' 1926. 1,606,225

C. A. HOPKINS ET AL MACHINE FOR HUSKING AND CRACKING NUTS Filed July 61 3 6 Sheets-Sheet 6 @MW 0% @zrm an vantori Pate ma Nov. 9, 192 I UNITED STATES I -1,606,225 PATENT FFICE.

CHARLES ANDREW HOPKINS AND MILTON ROBERT WOOD, OF SUGAR LAND, TEXAS,

ASSIGNORS, BY DIRECT AND MESNE ASSIGNMENTS, TO TROPICAL PRODUCTS COM- FANY, OF SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA, A CORPORATION OF CALIFORNIA.

I MACHINE FOR HUSKING AND CRACKING NUTS.

Application filed July 6,

This invention relates to an improved machine for husking and cracking nuts, particularly nuts of the various species of the nut bearing palm trees, such as the Attila palm, Manaca palm,Coyol palm and other palms of the same or similar families.

The object of the invention is to provide.

. sorting or grading, that will apply the I .ment of the invention. J

cracking force to the nuts to the best ad- 'vantage to effect the cracking'of the same with the minimum force or pressure required and without injury to the kernels,.and to facilitate the separation of the kernels uninjured from the shells, to the end that the work of husking, cracking and separation, is much simplified and more effectually and expeditiously performed.

The invention, with other objects and advantages thereof, and the particular construction, combinations and arrangements of parts comprising the same, will be understood from the hereinafter contained detail description, when considered in connection with the accompanying drawings, forming part hereof, and illustrating one embodi- The invention comprehends husking mechanism comprising a revolving wheel or like part equipped with a series of fixed knives projecting from the peripheral por- '.tion thereof, and a cooperating relatively fixed concave member provided with series of spring pressed independently movable knives, the wheel member .with its fixed knives'being adapted to be'r'apidly revolved to rapidly roll the nutsvto the concave, and the spring pressed independently movable knives of the concave being adapted to automatically adjust themselves to rats of varying size", and shapes, and different de-' grees' of toughness, and cooperating with the fixed knives of the revolving wheel member to thoroughly peel the husks from the nuts.

The invention compreheads cracking 1923. Serial No. 649,968.

mechanism I comprising a fixed L cracking block or member provided with a. sloping or inclined roughened surface, and a 00-. operating rotary roll having a roughened surface, the cracking'block or member being arranged to' one side of the roll with its sloping roughened surface disposed-opposite to the upper half of the cracking roll in spaced relation therewith and extending downwardly toward the same, the sloping surface of the fixed block ormember and the curvature of the opposing face of the roll providing a space therebetween which gradually decreases in wi th or tapers downwardly, said cracking ing adapted to operate on nuts of varying sizes and shapes, and to apply a breaking force to the nuts below the central portion thereof, the operation being in the nature of iechanism 'bea pinching action, and this pinching force being always exerted on the nuts below'the central .part thereof irrespective of the size .and shape of the nuts, and when the breaking of the nuts takes place, under this pinchlng action, the broken nuts flying upwardly v away from the roll and then falling by gravity between. the fixed member or block and the roll.

In the drawings: 4

Figure 1 is a side elevation illustrating a.

machine constructed in accordance with the present invention.

v Fig. 2 is a detailside elevation of the husking mechanism unit, only-a few of the teeth of the concave, for the sake of clearness, being shown.

Fig.- 3 is a detail side elevation, on an en? larged scale, with parts broken away, of pprtions of the concave and wheel member of the husking unit.

Fig. 4 is a detail transverse section of the husking mechanism.

Fig. 5 is a detail perspective of oneof the knives and plunger rods of the concave.

Fig. 6 is a detail View of one of the knives of'the concave.

Fig. 7 is a perspective view of one of the end knives of the husking cylinder wheel.

Fig. 8 is a similar view of one of the intermediate knives of the husking wheel.

Fig. 9 is a detail view of one of'the knife spacing-members of the husking Wheel. v

- Fig.- 10 is a detail side elevation of the cracking mechanism unit having indicated,"

put of the kind hereinbe't'ore the husking and therein diagrammatically nuts of varying sizes and shapes and the engagement of the same by the revolving roll and fixed block or member during the cracking operation.

Fig. 11.isa top plan view of the cracking mechanism unit.

Fig. 12 is a longitudinal section of a palm referred to.

\Vhile in the drawings is illustrated one embodiment of the invention. it will of course be l-indcrstood that changes and obvious variations of the particular construction, combinations and arrangements of parts shown.-and the carrying out of the invention'in other forms. as will appeal to those skilled in the art, and falling within the scope of the appended claims, may be practiced without departing from the spirit of the invention.

In Figure 12 of the dra wings is illustrated a palm nut, such nuts having an outer fibrous husk a about one eighth t inch thick, and beneath the husk an exceedingly hard shell 7) requiring from eighteen hundred (1.800) to two thousand (2000) ponndsstcadv pressure to break it, the shell being fairly brittle andfrom one" quarter (M) to three eighths of an inch thick. 0 designates the kernel of the nut which is about the size and shape of a medium size pecan.

,Any suitable form of supporting frame for cracking mechanism mav be; employed, the construction of frame shown having side bars 1 and pairs of horizontally extending bars 2, 3. 4 and 5. The husking mechanism is shown arranged at the upper part of the frame. Referring to a detail description oftheparticular husking mechanism shown, reference being had par ticularly to Figures 2 to 9 inclusive of the drawings. 6 designates the revolving wheel member having a. peripheral part 6. and 7 is the concave fixedly supported at one side of the wheel member to extend opposite and eccentrically thereto. the lower portion of the concave being nearer to the outer face of the peripheral part 6 of the wheel member than the upper entrance part thereof. Provision is made for adjusting one of said members relatively to the other. In the construction shown the concave 7 is mounted for adjustment relatively to the wheel member 6. The wheel member 6 is fixed on a shaft 8 supported for rotation in bearings 9 on the horizontal bars 3. The concave 7 1s connected at. its ends with the horizontal bars 2, 4, by shafts 10. 11. extendingthrough openings in the concave and having projectmg end portions mounted in journal boxes 12, 13. The boxes 12,13. are provided with apertured flanges '12, 13. and said boxes are clamped to the bars 2. 4,, by bolts and nuts 14, 15. the bolts passing through elongated openings in said bars. 16, 17 designate and horizontally. and for the nice prm'ided with series of .knives 18. 19, ar-- ranged in parallel transverse rows at regular intervals throughout the faces thereof, said knivesbeing provided with cutting edges 13'. 19'. formed concave in the direction of their length-and disposed transversely of said parts. Each of said rows contain the same number of knives similarly spaced. In the construction shown, each row consists of three knives, a main central'one, with a smaller knife at either side thereof. The knives 18 of the edl v mounted thereon. They are provided with inclined side faces, as shown. and detachably seated in dove tail grooves 20 extending transversely in the face of the peripheral part (3 of the wheel member. 21 designates spacing blocks of dovetail form seated in the grooves 20, and-22 are set screws having a threaded engagement with the peripheral part 6 of the wheel and enwheel member are. tixgaging the spacing blocks 21 located at the ends of the rows to. secure the knives in place.

The knives 19 of the concave 7 are mounte'd thereon for independentmovement relative thereto, and spring pressure means. is

provided for each of. the knives 19 for exerting an outward pressure thereon, said means being adjustable to vary the amount of pressure. Means is alsogprovided for regulating the distance the-knives project beyond the face of the concave. Each knife 19 is provided with a plunger rod 2 3 having an enlarged head part 2.3 at one 'end. which is slotted to receive the blade of the knife. and the knife is secured thereto by a pin 24. The head part 23 of the plunger 23 and the knife 19 slidably engages a *wa extending radially through the concave, and the red at its other end slidably engages asleevc 26 on an arcuate shaped frame 27 extending in the rear of and rigidly secured ends to the concave.

and has a threaded outer end portion 28 to cooperate with an adjusting nut The sleeves 26' are externally threaded and adjustably engage threaded openings in-the frame part 27'. 30 designates coiled expansion springs on the rods 23 interposed'between loose collars 31, 32, abutting against the frame part 27 and the head parts 23 of 7 The outer end ofthe rod 23 extends through the sleeve 26 the rods 23, said springs exerting pressure 19, and the distance the knives 19 project from the face of the concave 7 can be regu latedby adjusting the nuts 29; The peripheral portion 6 of the wheel1member'6 is of a 'width' substantially the same as the width of' the concave .and projecting forwardly from the concave and. overlapping the portions 6 of the wheel member 6 are plates 33, which serve as a housing to prevent the nuts from escaping from .between the husking elements at the sides thereof. 34 designates a hopper and chute, which may L be supported in any suitable way, not shown,

the cracking mechanism,

for'feeding the nuts to the husking mecha-" nism. The wheel member 6 is adapted to be rapidly revolved,; and as the nuts are fed thereto from the chute 34 the nuts will be rapidly rolled to the concave by the wheel member, the knives of the concave cooperating with those of the wheel to grip and hold the nuts from turning, and to tear and peel the husks therefrom, the independently movable spring pressed knives 19 of the concave automatically adjusting themselves to nuts of varying sizes and "shapes.

Referring now to a detail description of K see particularly Figures 1O, 11{ and 12 of the drawings, 35 designates the rotary roll member and 36 the fixed incline of the unit, the latter preferably, asshown, being in the form of a solid block having a face 36 at one side extend- 111g in an inclined plane. The rotary roll 35 has journals 35 at its ends, supported in bearings 37 on the horizontal bars 5. The incline or block 36 is mountedon the bars 5 with its inclined. face 36 disposed oppositeto the upper half of the cracking roll 35 in spaced, relation therewith an 7 extending downwardly toward the same, the sloping face of the block or fixed member 36 and the curvature of the opposing face of the roll member 35 providing a space therebetween which gradually decreases in width or tapers downwardly from the upper entrance end'of the unit. The block or fixed mem; ber 36 is firmly secured to the bars 5 by 1 bolts 37 or equivalent fastening means.

Means is provided for adjusting one of the cracking elements toward and from the other to vary the spacing thereof. For this purpose the bars 5 are provided with elongated openings 38, and the bearings 37 0f the roll '35 are clamped to the bars by bolts and nuts 39, 40, the olts extending through apertured' flanges 41 of the bearings and the elongated openings 38 in the bars 5.

designates pairs of adjusting screwspeaeh cracking elements.

having aithreaded engagement with one ofthe bars .5 and extending upwardly therethrough and engaging the bottom face of one of theloearings 37. By loosening the nuts 39 the bearings 37 may be shifted hori-.

zontally on the bars 5, and they may be ad- 1 justed vertically through the medium of the adjusting screws 39 and, 4 0: The inclined face of the block *or fixed'm'ember 36 is roughened and the roll member is also'pro- .vided with a roughened outer, face. Both the fixed member or block 36 and the roll member 35 are preferably constructed of roughened steel, or other suitablemetal and serrated to surfaces throughout. inclined face 36 of the block provide file like and the outer face of the roll. The roughened face 36 of the block 36 is preferably formed, as shown, of rows of fine teeth that are triangularshape in cross section downwardly inclined faces 43 and adjoining abruptly extending-bottom faces 44. The face of the wheel is shown provided with series of small corrugations or ribs 45 extending throughout the face, thereof, the faces of said ribs 45 and the face portions therebetween being. finely serrated. 46

designates plates suitably secured to. the ends of the fixed member 'or block '36 and extending forwardly therefrom in overlap-1 ping relation with the ends'of the roll member 35 to prevent the nuts from escaping at the sides of the' unit from between the In the. operation of the. nut cracking mechanism, the roll member 35 is rapidly rotated, and as ,the nuts are fed to the mechanism, they are gradually drawn into the downwardly tapering space between the incline and the roll member until a point is reached, depending upon the size and shape of the nut, where a pinching pressure is ap-.'

plied to the nut below the central part thereof to break the same, the fine file like teeth of the roughened surface of the incline and t'heteeth of the roughened surface of "the roll 'member acting to grip 'and hold the nuts against slipping from the incline and roll member during the breaking operation. Asthe shells of the nut break under this pinching action applied'below the central part of the nut, the broken nut is caused to fly outwardly from thei i'oll and incline, and then drops back by gravity and falls between the block and roll member and is discharged therefrom. As i' the nuts are breaking operation, this tends to separate the broken parts of the nut from each other.

The diameter of any parts of thebroken nut will be less than the distance bet-ween the lowerend of the block or fixed member "36 and the roll member 35 so that the -caused to fly upwardly as the result of the kernels.

- the'roll member of the huski g ing mechanisms.

and the shells from thekernels. In the par} operation being in the nature of ca pinching the block and ,the roll member and are dis- :charged -therefrom without injury to the Any s'uitablemeans, not shownfis employed for driving the wheell ember 6 and and crack- Any suitable means maybe employed for separating the husks from the husked nuts ticular construction shown in the drawings,

46 de ignates a discharge chute leading from the discharge end of the husking mechanism'to an inclined chute 47, intermediate the ends thereof, the latter chute at its lower end leading to the entrance of the cracking mechanism, and at its upper end having an 'angul'arly "disposed discharge. spout 48. 49 designates it horizontally extending passage ed with the minimum pressure, required and -without injury to the kernels, the. breaking force being always exerted on the nuts below the central/parts thereof, irrespective of "the size and shape ofthe nut, the breaking action as distinguished from an impact or crushing actionas in -machines heretofore employedfor this purpose. T j

What we claim 1s:'

1. In a machine of the class described, husking mechanismcomprising a rotary wheel member, a'nd a'cooperating concave, one of said members being provided with knivesprojecting outwardly from the face or casing communicating at one end with the thereof, said knives being/"mounted in said 5 charge chute-Portions lea inclined chute 47 at a point above the endischarga chute 16. '5l designate dis- 'atfoneend with thedischargechute portion ,{l9'at one side thereof, and 53 is a horizon-- tally extending discharge chute portion havthereof, said knlves being mounted on said with thexdiscliarge chute portion 50L suit v, ing's or passages 49-51 to prom able air forcing means (not shown) is con- "nected with the horizontally extending casde a blast member for independent movement relative trance to the cracking mechanism and below ly thereto, andme'ans -forymaintainin'g the:

the point of communication therewith of the kniyes inf an. outer position under yielding pressure.

ding from the fi 2; In "a machineof ,the class described,

husking mechanism comprls ng a rotary wheel member, and a cooperating concave, Gnepf said members beingprovided with knives projecting outwardly from the face member for independent movement relativelythereto, and adjustable means for maintaining the knives in an outercposition under yielding pressure 2 of air therethrough in the direction of the wheel member, and a cooperating concave,

arrows As the husks and husked nuts are discharged from,th-e discharge chute'46' of one t said members being provided" with knlves projecting outwardly from the face the husking mechanism into the inclined thereof, said knlves being mounted on said directedair blast from the casing or pasly thereto, means for maintaining the knives blown'off through tlie discharge spout 48, and means for adjusting the distance the.

' 45.1 the heavier husked nuts passing downwardly knives normally project from said member;

to the cracking mechanism. The broken 4. In a machine. of the class described,

nutsfroin the cracking mechanism pass to shusking mechanism comprising a. rotary the discharge portion 50 and are subjected to an air" blastfrOm the passage 52 the kernels being blown off through the dis-.

I chargechute. portion 53 while the heavier shell portions pass downwardly through the discharge chute portion 51.

By the special mechanism hereinbefore described, a machine is provided-that will effectually husk and crack nuts of various" sizes "and shapes and difi'erent "degrees of toughness and hardnessat the'same opera tion without injury to the kernels, the neces sit y f0r previous sorting and grading of the nuts and machines and work incidental to this preliminary sorting and grading, being entirely avoided sothat the work of husking and cracking is'muchsimplified and can be i carried on twice as rapidly, and at one half wheel member and a cooperating concave member, one of said members being provided with a series of knives arranged in rows extending transversely of and projeeting-lirom the face thereof, the knivesbeing mountedf J c hutej47,+they are subjected to an upwardly .member for independent movement'relative-' ,sage. 4 9 the lighter husk particles being in an outer position under yielding pressure, i

on said member for independent movement 1 relatively thereto, and means for each knife for maintaining the same in an outer position under yielding pressure. W 1

5. In a machine of the. class described,

husking mechanlsm compr slng; a rotary wheel member and .a cooperating concave, one of said members bjenig provided wlth'a series of knlves arranged in rows transversely of and projecting from the face thereof, said knives being 'mounted on said memher for independent movement relatively thereto, and'springmeans exerting outward pressure upon the knives and acting to yieldably maintain them in.an outer position,

in rows extending transversely of and prohusking "provided with knives projecting.

jecting from the face thereof.

6. In a machine of the class described, husking mechanism. comprising a rotary wheel member, and a cooperating concave member, the concave 'memberbeing provided with a series of knives arranged in rows transversely of and projecting from the face thereof, said knives being mounted on said member for independent movement relatively thereto, and spring means exerting outward pressure upon the knives and acting to yieldably maintain them in an outer position, and the rotary wheel member being provided with knives fixedly mounted thereon, and arranged in rows transversely of and projecting from the face thereo v 7. In a machine of the class described, husking mechanism including a rotary wheel member, and a cooperating-concave member, one of said members being provided with series of knives arranged in rows transversely of and projecting from the face thereof, said knives being slidably mounted on said member for independent. movement relatively thereto, and coiled springs interposed between the knives and said member exerting an outward pressure upon the knives and acting to yieldably maintain them in an outer position.

8. In a. machine of the class described, mechanism including a rotary wheel member, and a cooperating concave'member, one of said members being provided with series'of knives arranged in rows transversely of and projectin from the face thereof, said knives being sli ably mounted on said member for independent movement relatively thereto, and coiled springs interposed between the knives and said member exerting an outward pressure upon the knives and acting .to yieldably maintain them in an outer position, coiled springs to vary the amount of pressure exerted thereby upon the knives.

9. In a machine of the class described, husking mechanism comprising a rotary wheel member and a concave member, the wheel member and concave member being from the faces thereof, said knives bein disposed with their cutting edges exten mg transversely of the wheel and concave.

10. In a machine of the class described, husking mechanism comprising a rotary wheel member and a' concave member, the wheel memben and concave being provided with series of knives arranged in rows extending transversely and projecting from the facesfthereof, he knives being disposed and means for adjusting the with their cutting blades extending transversely of the wheel and concave.

11. In a machine of the class described,-

husking mechanism comprising a rotary wheel member and a concave, the .wheel member and concave being provided with knives projecting from the faces thereof, said knives-having cutting blades of concave form, said blades being disposed to extend transversely of the wheel and concave.

12. In a machine of the class described, husking. mechanism comprising a rotary wheel member and a concave member, the wheel member and'eoncave being provided with series of knives arranged in transverse rows at regular intervals along and proecting edges of the knives being disposed transversely of the wheel and concave.

' l3. In a machine of the class described, husking mechanism comprising a rotary from the faces thereof, the cutting' wheel member, and a concave member, the

wheel member and concave being provided with knives projecting from the faces there-- of, said knives being disposed with their cutting edges extending transversely of the wheel and concave, one of said members being adjustable relatively to the other.

14. In a machine of the class described,

husking mechanism comprising a rotary wheelmember and a concave member, the

wheel member and concave being providedv i with series of knives arranged in transverse rows at intervals along and projecting from the. faces thereof, said concave member being adjustable relatively to the rotary wheel member.

15. In a machine of the class described, the combination of nut husking mechanism comprising a .rotary wheel member and a cooperating concave member, both of said members being provided with series of. knives projecting from the faces thereof, the knives of one of said members being mounted on. said member for independent movement relatively thereto, means for maintaining the knives in an outer posititfn under yielding pressure, nut cracking mechanism comprising a rotary roll member provided with, a roughened face, and a cooperating member'liaving a sloping roughened surface, said member bein arranged with its sloping roughened face isposed opposite to an upper part of the roll member in nut cracking mechanism forseparating the husks and the husked nuts'delivered from the husking mechanism, and for conveying r the husked nuts to the cracking mechanism.

16. In a machine of the class described, the combination of nut husking mechanism comprising a rotary wheel member and a site to an upper part of the the combination comprising a rotary Wheel member and a and a member having a roughened face ex tending in an inclined plane, said member being arranged with its inclined roughened face disposed opposite an upper portion of the roll member in spaced relation therewith and extending toward the same, and means interposed between the nut huskingmechanism and the nut eiacking mechanism for separating the husks and the husked nuts delivered from the husking mechanism, and

for conveying the husked nuts to the cracking mei-hanism.

17. In a machine of the class described,

of nut huskmg mechanism cooperating concave member, both of said members being provided with a series of knives projecting from the faces thereof, the knives of one of said members being mounted on said member for independent movement relatively thereto, means for maintaining the knives in an outer position under yielding pressure, one of said members being adjustable relatively to the other, nut cracking mechanism comprising a rotary roll member provided with an outer roughened corrugated face, and a cooperating member having a sloping roughened surface, said member being arranged with its sloping roughened face roll member in and extending interposed bespaced relation therewith toward the same, and means tween the nut husking mechanism and the nut cracking mechanism for and the husked nuts separating the husks delivered from disposed op po separating the husks and the husked nuts delivered from the bushing mechanism, and [oi-conveying the husked nuts ing mechanism.

it). In a machine ofthe class described, husking mechanism comprising a rotary wheel member and a cooperating concave member, the wheel member and concave member being provided with knives projecting from the faces thereof, the knives ot' one o'f said members being shdably supported thereon for independent radial movement and said member having spring means exerting pressure uponthe knives and acting to yieldably maintain them in an outer po- .sition.

In testimony whereof we hereunto atlix our signatures.

CHARLESAN DREW HOPKINS. MILTON ROBERT WOOD.

to the cravkand for conveying the husked 

